New Delhi: Facing criticism over incomplete
Commonwealth Games venues, government has decided to crack the
whip on officials involved with the projects making them
"directly responsible" for any further delay.
"Henceforth, Chief Engineer of the project would be
directly held responsible for failing to meet the deadline in
completing the work," Union Urban Development Secretary M
Ramachandran told reporters.
The Urban Development Ministry, which is the nodal
ministry for coordinating all the projects related to CWG, has
found in its latest review meeting that majority of the 17
venues will not be able to meet the March-end deadline.
While Central Public Works Department (CPWD) is involved
in handling 11 venues, DDA is responsible for completion of
four venues.
"The Director General of the CPWD and Vice-Chairman of
the DDA has been told categorically that no further delay is
acceptable," Ramachandran said.
While athlete field and weight lifting arena at
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium are yet to be ready, work for cycling
track and gymnastics zone at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium are
also lagging behind the schedule.
The CPWD has been told to complete these venues by April
end, he said.
SP Mukherjee Swimming Complex will now be ready by early
May as per the extended deadline finalised by the government.
Ruling out any further delay in the projects, CPWD DG BK
Chugh said, "We are hopeful to meet the deadlines and all
Games projects would be completed on time."
The DDA has also failed to meet the deadline to complete
the squash and badminton venues at Sirifort Sports Complex.
However, the hockey venue at Major Dhyanchand Stadium,
shooting range at Dr Karni Singh Stadium and Big Bore Shooting
Range at Kadarpur in Gurgaon are now ready.
The extended deadlines are being fixed with the consent
of the Organising Committee and Sports Ministry.
Ramachandran, who is now reviewing all Games projects on
a weekly basis, said, "The two flyovers near the Games
village, crucial for smooth traffic during the event, are
expected to be operational by August."
The additional direct route to connect the new terminal
at the Indira Gandhi International Airport from Dwarka is to
be completed by September.
With just 200 days left for the mega sports event to
begin, the government is on an overdrive to ensure completion
of all projects.
The Games are scheduled to be held in New Delhi between
3-14 October 2010.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, March 21, 2010, 12:45